Round 3 Preview

Last Week           6/8           Season Total      13/19

I took my own advice and took a trip to the West Coast on the weekend with Family in tow.  It was a lovely getaway.  Of course, it means I didn’t see and barely heard any of the weekends footy action.  I did visit an aquarium sunken into the bottom of a jetty though.  There wasn’t much wildlife that day, but I did note a door at the bottom that said, “in case of fire, open door.”  I couldn’t see anything on the other side of the door other than the entire Indian Ocean, which I suppose after opening would resolve the fire issue.  Then you have a raft of other issues like breathing and being in an environment that news outlets would have you believe is teeming with Great Whites with about a 1 mile swim ahead of you.  Luckily there was no fire, and I solved my anxious heartbeat with a dousing of beer at a local brewery.  The family summed it up as a “Good day had by some.”

I couldn’t help but feel the pinch of cost of living when in a vacation town.  One day we had breakfast, and it cost more than breakfast, lunch and dinner the next day.  It wasn’t terribly fancy either, but was full of wholesome, organic and healthy items which I watched with much angst as my kids pushed them around the plate until they were inedible. C’est la vie, I guess.  I’m sure there’s footy on this week…let’s take a look.

Essendon vs Port Adelaide          Marvel Stadium               Thursday Night

Needless to say, Essendon need a win to validate their off-season trading of Stringer.  Port Adelaide got their win over Richmond after a stinging rebuke during the week and they need to continually validate the succession plan to prevent Hinkley’s early demise via death by a thousand media articles.  Port returns to the scene of their round 1 crime, albeit a different oval which, given a forecast for clear, radiant skies, perfect for football, will mean a closed roof.  Unlike the MCG, Port has a very good record at the Docklands and with a fleet of midfield speedsters, the flat, fast track makes them difficult to catch.  Essendon would not like to start the season 0-3 as this stalls momentum and can prematurely end your season, but unless Langford can get back on the park I can’t see how they can kick enough goals (although 100 points against Adelaide was good – just not when they kick 165).  Port Adelaide by 27 points.

Carlton vs Footscray       Marvel Stadium               Friday Night

The Blues are another team suffering from early season blunders to see them floundering winless near the bottom of the ladder.  Curnow was rushed back and was a bit under-done and they are making some amateurish skill errors at crucial moments.  Easily cleaned up, as any coach will tell you.  Footscray had their party pooped by the Pies but put up a valiant effort in a match that was, according to many, umpired poorly.  There was lots of colourful feedback online about the umpires and I think the consensus is their performance was pretty lousy.  But biased is a stretch, even with a 33-16 free kick count.  You can look at the tape, which I’m sure the umpires do and have a more objective view.  The scoreboard will always make things look worse than they are.  Not to worry though, as unbiased as the umpires are, expect Footscray to get a more favourable run with the Whistle this week…it just happens.  I’m not sure it will be enough to get up over a fired up Carlton though.  Carlton by 14 points.

Melbourne vs Gold Coast            MCG      Saturday Afternoon

What happened to Melbourne on the weekend?  I saw a score early on and it was a tight contest which I just assumed Melbourne would eventually win.  Then later I saw they got monstered to the tune of 10-goals in a final quarter blitz.  They need to turn things around quickly but come up against a Gold Coast team who have worked out how to win away from home!  Will coming off a bye hurt Gold Coast or the fact that they’ve only played 1 match in the first 3 weeks of the season?  Alarm bells are ringing for the D’s.  Gold Coast by 21 points.

St Kilda vs Richmond     Marvel Stadium               Saturday Afternoon

Then, all of a sudden out of nowhere…that’s how I’d describe Saint Kilda’s blitz over Geelong.  The Cats fought their way back in, but it was too little too late.  Richmond went over to Adelaide all cock-a-hoop but left with their Tiger tails between their legs.  It’s lucky for us tipsters too as I don’t think I could cope if Richmond were pinching a few wins.  Saint Kilda by 35 points.

Hawthorn vs GWS           York Park             Saturday Night

I know technically that Adelaide is between them, but this is a ridgee-didge top of the table clash between two titans of 2025.  It’s a shame that it’s at York Park.  GWS’s record there is two losses, 1 win and a draw, but their win was against Sydney.  But the margin between these two at York was just a solitary goal last year and this will be a much anticipated contest.  The lifetime record between the two is also well poised with GWS winning 8 of 16 (7 losses and that one draw).  I can’t wait to watch this one but have no idea who to tip.  Time to bring out the magic coin.  Hawthorn by 1 point.

Brisbane vs Geelong      Gabba   Saturday Night

I debated whether or not to just copy and paste my Round 0 preview here.  Afterall, it was already written as this was one of the cyclone affected matches.  It’s been slotted in here effectively un-bye-ing these two teams.  Now we know a bit more about them we can make a better judgement call.  Brisbane were jumped by a youthful West Coast before righting the ship and Geelong were jumped by the Saints but couldn’t bale enough water to fully right the ship…it was still listing a little at the end.  Geelong, when they’re working effectively, have been moving the ball with great speed and efficiency which could trouble Brisbane, but the Gabba gives a good advantage to Brisbane.  I’m tempted to go Geelong on this one as they have a decent enough record against Brisbane to unsettle them.  But early season is not the time for desperate measures.  Brisbane by 9 points.

Adelaide vs North Melbourne   Adelaide Oval   Sunday Afternoon

Both of these teams are coming off dishing out 10-goal thumping’s.  It’s been a rarity in recent times to write a preview where I’m giving North Melbourne a chance…oh, wait, it’s at Adelaide Oval.  Adelaide by 32 points.

West Coast vs Fremantle             Perth Stadium   Sunday Twilight

This is probably not what WA imagined at the start of the year.  Two winless sides facing off in a bottom of table clash…a Derby if you will.  For many years the WA public talk about seceding from Australia in general.  “See how those bastards cope without our minerals,” they’d say.  Right now, it might be a pretty good idea as this Derby would turn into a top of the table clash.  It’s not a straight forward event either with West Coast putting on a bit of a showing and Fremantle looking a bit shaky.  I do feel sorry for Harley Reid though.  When your talent is that much more elevated than the rest of the team, you’re going to get targeted and the exuberance of youth will have you pointing fingers skyward often.  I remember not being very mature when I was that age.  Hell, I’m still not that very mature!  This is an isolated fixture and will be played in heat worse than the Suns Carona.  I don’t envy the players in this one, but it will be an enthralling contest that everyone should enjoy.  I think Fremantle are slightly ahead of West Coast on this one, but the reverse wouldn’t surprise me in the least.  Fremantle by 12 points.

Byes:  Collingwood, Sydney

The Swans will be thankful for finally making the winners circle and Collingwood, after losing Reef McInnes for the season, have had their average age revised even higher.  Old legs need frequent rests.

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